Rotary internal-combustion engine.



C. R. CARPENTER. ROTARY INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 31. 19W.

Patented Nov. 20, 1917.

3 SHEETSSHEET l4 c'. R. CARPENTER.

ROTARY INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 31 C. R. CARPENTER. ROTARY INTERNAL comsusnou ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY3l. 1916. I 1,246,875. Patent/ed Nov. 20,1917.

' 3 SHEETt-SHEET 3.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. I

CHARLES R. CARPENTER, OF SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA.

ROTARY INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented rov. 20, 1917.

Application filed May 31, 1916. Serial No. 100,871.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

' Be it known that 1. CHARLES R. CARPEN- TER. a c t zen of the United States, residing at San Diego, State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rotary Internal-Combustion Engines, of

.which the followingis a description, refploded. My invention has for a further object to provide means for starting the engine from a position of rest.

\Vith these and other objects hereinafter explained in view, mv invention consists in the construct on and combination of elements hereinafter described and claimed.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front view of an explosion en ne embodying my invent on.

" Fig. 2 is a vertical cross sectional view on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a ertical cross-sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional vlew on 11118 ;4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view corresponding to Fig. 3. but showing the piston of the rotor in a dilferent position and Fig. 6 is a detail view, partlv in horizontal section. showing the charge-forming device.

In the drawings. 1 indicates the bed plate of the engine having bolted thereto the rotor casings 5 each formed in the usual way of .two parts bolted together and carrying at their centers bearings 6 for the shaft Each part of each of the rotor casings 1s provided'withan inner wall 9 and an outer wall 10 between which walls is a space forming a jacket for circulation of air or water to cool the casings. Between the inner walls of the two parts which make up a rotor casing formed the annular space within which rotates the piston 12 carried by hub 13 on shaft 8.

A transverse gate opening is formed in each of the rotor casings directly below and in line with the axis of the shaft 8 into which extends a disk 15 carried by shaft 16, carried in suitable bearings at right angles to the axis of the shaft 8. The disk 15, there being one for each of the rotor casings, is provided with an opening 17 at its periphery of .a width measured from the periphery of the disk inward, corresponding to the diameter of the annular space in the rotor casing through which the piston 12 travels, and of a length somewhat greater than the diameter of such annular space.

This disk 15 forms the gate or abutment between which and the piston 12, the explosive charge is introduced and exploded, and the opening 17 is to permit the piston to pass the line of this gate or abutment.

The shafts 16 are rotated by means of bevel gears 20 driven by bevel gears 21 on shaft 22 arranged below the bed plate 1 and parallel with shaft 8. Midway of its length this shaft 22 is provided with sprocket 23, which is operativelv connected by sprocket chain 24 with sprocket 25 on shaft 8, midway between the two rotor casings.

It will be seenfron this construction that the disk 15 rotates with the shaft 8, the arrangement being such that the disk will be rotated to bring the opening 11' in line with the annular space through which the piston 12 travels as the piston is passing the line of the disk so that it may pass freely. As soon asit has passed the line of the disk, the rotation of the disk carries the opening 17 away from the space-in which the piston] travels. and brings the solid portion of the disk into the gate opening to form the abutment between which and the piston the charge is exploded.

The explosive charge is introduced into this explosion chamber through inlet 30. the

hub 13 being cut away along its periphery rearward from the base of the piston 12 a suitable distance as shown at 31, to permit the free entrance of the explosive mixture.

during the forward movement of the piston,

and its distribution in the explosion chamher.

At 32 is arranged aspark plug for;

igniting the charge, and at 33 is arranged an exhaust port.

In the operation of the engine the disk 15.;

is so rotated that as the piston 12, moving in the direction of the arrows in Figs. 3 and .3, approaches the gate the open space 17 is brought in line with the annular space between the parts of the rotor casing so that the piston can pass by the disk. As the piston continues to rotate the disk also rotates so as to bring the solid portion of it in line with the space in which the piston rotates, thus forming an abutment between which and the piston is the explosion chamber 31-. As the piston continues its rotation, it uncovers the inlet port 30 to admit the explosive charge. As the piston rotates further it closes the inlet port and, passing beyond the spark plug, permits the charge to be ignited driving the piston forward until it passes the exhaust port 33, where the products of combustion resulting from the explosion of the charge pass out through this port into exhaust pipe 47.

On the shaft 22 is arranged a pair of rotary air pumps or blowers 35, 36. From the blower 35 air is led by pipe 37 to the charge forming device 38 to which liquid fuel is supplied by pipe 39 leading from tank 40. From the charge-forming device 38 the charge is led to the inlets 30 of the respective rotor casings by pipes 41. From the blower 36 air is led by pipe 12 to the space between the inner and outer walls 9 and 10 of the right-hand half of the right-hand rotor casing, from which it passes by pipe 43 to the interior of the jacket of the other half of this rotor casing, from which it passes by pipe 44 to the jacket of the right-hand half of the other rotor casing, and from the jacket of this half casing through pipe 45 to the left-hand half of this rotor casing, passing from this jacket by pipe 46 to the exhaust pipe 47.

Also carried by the shaft .22 is the rotary member of a magneto 50, from which lead wires 51 and 52 to the spark plugs of the respective rotor casings. The magneto is of any usual construction and is provided with contact plate 53 arranged to be shifted by lever 54 to advance or retard the spark, lever 54 being arranged to be operated by rod 55.

The charge forming device 38 comprises a valve 58 provided on its outer end with a flexible arm 59, connected to rod (30 so that by rotating the rod the valve will be rotated. The valve chamber is secured to and opens into pipe 41 opposite a knife edge by which the oil spray is divided to be de livered to the two rotor casings. The head of the valve 58 seats against a suitable valve seat in the casing 38. On the stemof the valve is a head or piston 57 arranged opposite the point at which the oil pipe 39 enters the vali-eca'smg and provided with an anni'i lar groove communicating with a bore 56' extending forward to the top of the head of the valve. In the valve casing in line with the oil pipe 39 is an annular groove (36 so arranged that as the head or piston 57 is moved outward it will uncover this groove in such a way that the amount of oil delivered will increase rapidly.

The disks 15 rotate in casings 61 extending upward through the bed plate 1 and suitably secured to the rotor casings. These disk casings are provided in their lower portions with enlargements 62 adapted to con tain a considerable quantity of oil and forming oil cups for a supply of oil sutlicient to lubricate the disks so that they will rotate easily in their casings.

The air which is forced through the jackets of the rotor casings serves to cool them. If desired, water instead of air may be forced through the jackets for cooling.

The disks 15 rotate constantly in the same direction, thus avoiding the back and forth motion of reciprocating gates. Suitable packings may be used at the gate openings and also on the piston. The openings 17 as shown are somewhat larger than necessary, it being only necessary to make them long enough to permit the piston to just pass the disks at the proper time.

The air pump or blower 35 is arranged to furnish air under high pressure so as to forcibly spray the fuel and force the mixed fuel spray and air into the cylinders at high pressure. The pressure may be regulated as desired, and for the purpose of determining the pressure suitable pressure gages may be used on the air supply and fuel supply.

The disks 15 as they rotate will carrv up from the oil cups sufficient oil to lubricate them and avoid friction.

Having thus described my invention, what, I claim is:

In a rotary engine, the combination of a plurality of annular chambers and rotors comprising pistons movable in said chain hers connected to a common shaft, gates movable in planes at right angles to the planes of rotation of the rotors across the path of the pistons consisting of disks having openings therein near their peripheriesadapted to permit the passage of the pistons, inlet ports for fuel arranged to be covered and uncovered by the rotors, means operated by the shaft for rotating the disks continuously in the same direction and casings for the disks arranged below the rotors in line with the axis of the shaft provided at their lower ends with enlargements to receive oil for lubricating the disks.

This specification signed and witnessed this 21th day of April- A. D. 1916.

CHARLES R. CARPEXTER.

Copies of this patcnt'may be-obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner at Patents,

Washington, D. C." 

